KPJ Perdana Specialist Hospital Lot PT.37 & PT.600, Seksyen 14, Jalan Bayam, Kota Bahru, Kelantan
KPJ Perdana Specialist Hospital Lot PT.37 & PT.600, Seksyen 14, Jalan Bayam, Kota Bahru, Kelantan
KPJ Perdana Specialist Hospital Lot PT.37 & PT.600, Seksyen 14, Jalan Bayam, Kota Bahru, Kelantan
This novel coronavirus, initially designated as 2019-nCoV that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China at the
end of 2019. The virus has been named as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by Coronavirus
Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and the disease caused has been named
by World Health Organization (WHO) as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A false negative result may occur if inadequate
viral load is present in the specimen as a result of the following reasons: Improper sample collection, or collection of sample at
an early stage of illness, especially before the symptom onset, or collection of sample at late stage of illness, especially after the
symptom relief, or specimens was not handled and transport appropriately. RNA viruses in particular show substantial genetic
variability. Although efforts were made to design RT-PCR assays to conserved regions of the viral genomes, variability resulting in
mis-matches between the primers and probes and the target sequences can result in diminished assay performance and
possible false negative results. A single negative COVID-19 test (especially if from upper respiratory tract specimen), or a positive
test result for another respiratory pathogen result does not exclude COVID-19 infection.
If there is a strong clinical, and/or epidemiological suspicion of COVID-19 infection, the submission of a new specimen and
request of Covid-19 testing is highly recommended. Expectorated sputum should be collected from patients with productive cough
and the induction of sputum is not recommended. A lower respiratory tract aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage should be
collected from patient who is intubated. A confirmed case of Covid-19 is defined as a person with a positive Covid-19 RT-PCR.
The symptoms and physical signs, stage or progress of disease, epidemiological links, other laboratory examinations and
therapeutic reactions of the patients should be comprehensively considered during their clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Commercial multiplex PCR assays for respiratory pathogens may detect endemic human coronaviruses (HCoV), known to
cause mild to moderate respiratory tract infections. These are the beta-coronaviruses HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1, and the
alpha-coronaviruses HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63. It is important that positive results for these viruses should not be confused
with COVID-19.
References:
1. World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) technical guidance. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/
novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance (Accessed on February 04, 2020).
2. Corman V, Bleicker T, Brünink S, Drosten C, Landt O, Koopmans M, et al. Diagnostic detection of Wuhan coronavirus 2019 by
real-time RTPCR 2020 [17 January 2020].
Available from: <https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/wuhan-virus-assay-
v1991527e5122341d99287a1b17c111902.pdf>
Address:- Lot PT. 37 & Pt. 600, Seksyen 14, Jalan Bayam, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Tel: 09-7458000 Fax: 09-747 2877
HOSPITAL PAKAR PERDANA - LAB DEPT
Address:- Lot PT. 37 & Pt. 600, Seksyen 14, Jalan Bayam, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Tel: 09-7458000 Fax: 09-747 2877